Q: What is the difference between adding a Web site to my favorites and bookmarking a Web site?
A: These are two different terms for essentially the same function.
Both provide users the ability to save a Web site link and ultimately, several links, to a browser-based queue for access any time they are accessing the Internet with their local, personal computer.
This provides for ‘one-click’ access to their most frequently accessed sites.
By default, these designated links are saved to the computer’s hard drive and can be downloaded to a thumb drive for data archive and/or transfer. The naming conventions — favorites and bookmarks — are specific to the different browsers. Microsoft’s Internet Explorer has always referred to these “saved” Web sites as favorites, while Mozilla, Opera, Firefox, Safari and others provide bookmarks to their users for the same purpose.
Worth mentioning is Microsoft Live Search and the Google and Yahoo Toolbars. All of these are free to download and install, and allow for access to your favorites from any computer, anywhere, anytime. You are required to create an account in order to receive this functionality.
Q: With the hotter weather, how do I make sure my computer stays cool?
A: There are several things you can and should do to ensure your computer stays cool.
The first is to clean the inside of your computer’s case.
That’s right, open up your computer and, using an electrostatic vacuum or compressed air, carefully vacuum or blast air until you’ve removed as much dirt and dust as you can. (If you do use compressed air, it is best to do this in a garage or outside as it creates a dusty mess.)
After reassembling the case, be sure to place your computer where there is plenty of open space. This provides for an efficient air flow so the computer can “breathe,” which keeps the temperature down.
Some computer cases provide for the addition of a second cooling fan. This is an inexpensive option for keeping the computer cool, as well.
It is beneficial to keep the computer in a room where air is circulated and, where possible, air-conditioned.
The computer case and all peripherals should be kept out of direct sunlight.
Setting the computer to go into standby mode when not in use or shutting down the computer will keep the computer cooler.
For those who are interested in looking at alternative and futuristic approaches to keeping their computers cool, you can always purchase a water cooling system for your computer.
No, I’m not kidding!
And lastly, if you have a laptop, which are notorious for overheating, the best investment you can make is a laptop cooling mat.
They are lightweight, impact-resistant plastic platforms with low-velocity fans – all powered through a USB connection.
Keep Cool!
Wayne Nelson and Jeremy Self own and operate Wired Northwest, LLC in Redmond. Submit your questions to: techtalk@wired-nw.com. Contact Wired Northwest, LLC at www.wired-nw.com or (206) 788-7975 or (206) 788-7898.
